Thread: Modern frame under old truck - how to register

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I've been kind of freaking out lately thinking about registering my truck with a Ford explorer frame. I bought my 47 Studebaker out state and the California DMV said to wait until it's drivable to get it inspected to finish the title transfer (I have a pink for the truck). Now wondering what's going to happen when they see a modern ford frame under there. The frame was from an explorer I salvaged.

If you're in California I suggest you contact the California Highway Patrol and the DMV. Those folks got quite anal after Boyd Coddington screwed the state over titles on most of his creations.

This used to be a huge topic on this site (and many others) but the main takeaway is that most of us don't live in your state and our rules and knowledge just won't apply. Most every state has a DMV website that'll get you started, and I would assume you kept paperwork showing where you got those parts from, so armed with that - you should be able to begin the process. I know when I did mine it sounded easy enough but it turned into a hassle as the state revised their program and how they wanted to apply titles for "assembled vehicles" the program was so new that the folks in the local offices had no idea what was supposed to happen and when! It was ... interesting... to say the least! LOL Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

Like Mike says, you need CA specifics and the hoops anyone has to jump through somewhere else mean nothing. Here's the registration & titling toolbox that SEMA assembled, which might give you some idea what's ahead, but there's no guarantee that when you start the process you'll see exactly what's printed, and you might find that your local DMV interprets things a bit differently from one in the big population centers. Good luck!! Let us know how it goes!

Link, Click on California - https://www.semasan.com/resources/ev...-all-50-states

Roger, thanks for that link, there's a lot of info there! I think it's going to me a nightmare because I salvaged the body of the explorer and they take the paper work . My frame numbers got sand blasted off too, so it's really a bad situation created by me. Seems like it could doom the project.

Originally Posted by v8nutz

My frame numbers got sand blasted off too, so it's really a bad situation created by me. Seems like it could doom the project.

And there's a classic example of what may or may not apply. While I had a Total Performance frame with their certificate and numbers... Mass didn't care! What Mass was after, was where were things purchased and did I pay the taxes on them! They wanted to see real invoices and not from Ebay either! They claimed it was theft prevention.. yeah. RIGHT!

This web site gives all the information for your quest:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicl...20verification.

Just my 2 cents.

Like has been mentioned every state has its own unique rules governing titling and registration. Add to that not every DMV is easy to work with, hell, not every employee within the same DMV is necessarily competent or helpful.

That was driven home to me over the last couple weeks when I went into DMV to do a title change and registration on a trailer. First trip I got the new girl with the not so competent supervisor who told me I needed additional paperwork. When I brought the paperwork in, I got the experienced employee who did all the title and registration in 15 minutes with the paperwork I originally brought in. Told me I didn’t need the extra paperwork it had taken a week to get.

On a title that may be complicated, it might be worth it to go thru a title service. They generally work with DMV on a daily basis, know the particular states system and usually have experience with the out of the ordinary title requests. Additionally they actually work for you, not the state. They can be easier to explain the situation to and usually provide good information on what paperwork they will need.

It’s been a long time ago, but when I turned a Vega station wagon into a V8 powered Vega pickup truck I had several trips and phone calls to the Illinois DMV to try and do a corrected title on the truck. I usually got contradictory information and often dealt with uninterested DMV employees and state police officers.

I finally thru up my hands up and hired a title service……..a month (and $150) later I had a correct title and license plate in my hand.



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Move......................it might be easier (I say, only somewhat in jest).

I will have the same questions for Iowa in the somewhat near future. I will need a bonded title for my 53 Dodge pickup with as Dakota frame. I should be ok. It doesn't seem like Iowa cares too much about this stuff and I have the nicest DMV people in the country to work we with.

https://youtu.be/hcHKNoMHDSs

Vermont loophole

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

https://youtu.be/hcHKNoMHDSs

Vermont loophole

A great way to get your car impounded if you live in Kansas, or a bunch of other states that have strict inspections on out of state vehicles presented for title transfer & registration. That "Vermont Loophole" is basically what Boyd Coddington was doing, then he bragged about how he was saving tens of thousands of dollars by titling his creations out of state with false valuation.

I'm waiting on a call back from a registration service. The secretary gave me hope that it can be done. Fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by v8nutz

I'm waiting on a call back from a registration service. The secretary gave me hope that it can be done. Fingers crossed.

Good luck mate!
I hope it works out for you.

Missouri is easy. Anytime I start a project I get the title put in my name before I start on it. When the car is ready to drive, if you go with historic plates then its super easy. Just send the DMV a copy of the title, insurance card, personal property tax receipt, and $31. No inspection needed and plates never need to be renewed as long as you own the car.